The Steans Family Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 Summer Youth Employment Program to support North Lawndale schools and Chicago non-profit agencies and businesses that provide meaningful summer employment or internships to the youth of North Lawndale. The Steans Family Foundation has aligned programs with one of our core foci, school-based education, and invites current grantee schools to apply as the lead placement organization for the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Program Description
The goal of the Summer Youth Employment Program is to provide youth, ages 14 to 22, with a high- quality, structured and supervised summer work or internship experience. The summer opportunities should offer youth hands-on experience and a chance to gain marketable work skills (general administrative support, program/project assistance, etc.) and self-confidence through career and vocational exposure. The applicant school is responsible for ensuring an excellent work environment for youth.

While we support school-based employment opportunities, we are most interested in applicant schools that partner with the non-profit and business communities outside of the community to provide job opportunities or internships to young people. The most competitive applicants will demonstrate strong career linkages outside of the school and place at least 30% of their students in non-profit and business settings.

The Steans Family Foundation will provide a stipend up to $990 for 14-15 year olds, $1,050 for 16-18 year olds and $1,110 for 19-22 year olds. This is equivalent to $8.25 per hour for 14-15 year olds, $8.75 per hour for 16-18 year olds and $9.25 for 19-22 year olds for 20 hours a week for 6 weeks during the summer. Schools can apply to receive stipends for up to six youth, or $6,300.

If you employ 14 and 15 year olds, a work permit is required. See the Illinois Department of Labor website for more information.

Application and Approval Process
The sponsoring school must complete the Summer Youth Employment Program Application and submit on or before May 15, 2012. Organizations will be notified by June 12, 2012 if the application has been approved. If approved, the school must then complete the Summer Youth Employment Program Youth Employee Form for each employee. The form(s) should be submitted by June 26, 2012. A check will then be disbursed to the school by July 2, 2012.